The Mexican Navy rescued two Cuban rafters in the state of Quintana Roo who were traveling on an improvised raft made of a plank and several tied plastic barrels. According to a press release issued by the Mexican Navy, the incident occurred on Friday when the Puerto Juárez Regional Port Captaincy contacted the Command and Control Center of the Ninth Naval Region to report a small vessel with two men on board that was about to sink due to a leak, 80 nautical miles (148 kilometers) north of Isla Mujeres.
In response to the emergency, the Coastal Patrol Uxmal (PC-335) immediately set sail to cover the vast distance and rescue the passengers, as cited by the media outlet Cambio22-Isla Mujeres on Facebook. The report detailed that the rafters were found floating on a plank and some barrels, 100 nautical miles (185 kilometers) north of Isla Mujeres, driven by ocean currents.
The sailors managed to rescue the castaways and transported them aboard the Coastal Patrol to a safe port. The rescue vessel with the undocumented individuals arrived at the dock of the Ninth Naval Region in Isla Mujeres during the night. At the facilities, the rafters were attended to by health personnel but were in good condition. Subsequently, they were handed over to immigration authorities for the corresponding procedures.
A few weeks ago, Mexican authorities rescued four Cubans with severe signs of dehydration who had been lost at sea for 34 days. The Cubans were found by fishermen from the fishing village of San Fernando, off the coast of Barra Boca de Catán in the state of Tamaulipas, northern Mexico; some were in critical condition. The information provided also detailed that four other Cubans on the boat had already died, "victims of hunger, thirst, and hypothermia as they had been shipwrecked for several days, clinging to pieces of the raft on which they were trying to reach the shores of the United States from Cuba," according to Mexican media.
In their statements, they said they left Cuba on April 1, on a boat made of sheet metal and wooden planks. During the journey, the rudder broke, leaving them lost at sea. While at sea, they suffered from severe storms with waves exceeding five to six meters in height; during the tempests, four Cubans fell into the water and also perished.
Details about the Cuban Rafters Rescue
Here are some frequently asked questions and answers regarding the rescue of Cuban rafters near Mexico.
How were the Cuban rafters found?
The Cuban rafters were found floating on a makeshift raft made of a plank and plastic barrels, 100 nautical miles north of Isla Mujeres, driven by ocean currents.
What actions did the Mexican Navy take to rescue them?
In response to the emergency, the Coastal Patrol Uxmal (PC-335) set sail immediately to cover the distance and rescue the rafters. They successfully transported them to a safe port where they received medical attention and were handed over to immigration authorities.
What were the conditions of the rescued individuals?
The rescued individuals were in good condition and were attended to by health personnel upon arrival at the dock of the Ninth Naval Region in Isla Mujeres.